That the decorations disappear, the lights are turned off and the trees are torched.

Because if you’re a Dundee fan, there’s very little festive cheer around at the moment.

The Dark Blues have now played their bitter city rivals three times in the last five months.

They’ve yet to win. They’ve yet to score.

United — thanks to yesterday’s 3-0 win — have now found the net 11 times in their three meetings this term.

Keith Watson headed Peter Houston’s side in front before second-half strikes from Jon Daly and Willo Flood — whose shot took a huge deflection off Kyle Benedictus — wrapped up the points for the visitors from across the street.

The Dark Blues — who haven’t beaten their old rivals since November 2004 — were boosted by the return of Nicky Riley after he missed last week’s 2-0 Scottish Cup win over Livingston.

John Baird, after his Man of the Match display against Livi, deservedly kept his place in Barry Smith’s line-up.

United arrived armed with in-form strikers Johnny Russell and Daly. The pair tore Stranraer to shreds last Saturday with Houston hoping they’d be back among the goals here.

But it was the home side, with Jim McAlister wide left and Riley wide right, who started the better.

Riley was first to embark on a jinking run before McAlister tore at Watson.

Both wingers looked in the mood with Riley’s looping header from John Rankin’s corner almost catching out United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak six minutes in.

United had been slow to find their feet, they hadn’t threatened Douglas’ goal.

But on 17 minutes they stormed into the lead. Watson timed his near-post run to perfection, diving bravely to send a thumping header from Barry Douglas’ corner crashing high into the net.

It was a goal out of nothing and it plunged three quarters of Dens Park into silence.

Dundee should have got themselves back level just before the half hour.

But Steven Milne blazed over after McAlister’s clever knock down.

United upped the ante just before half time.

Russell got the better of Gary Irvine and only a last-ditch clearance by Kyle Benedictus stopped Daly from adding to United’s lead.

The Dark Blues then had keeper Rab Douglas to thank after the veteran somehow got Watson’s piledriver up and over his crossbar. Russell went close again with a glancing header before Daly tested Douglas once more.

Dundee were on the ropes. They simply couldn’t keep a hold of the ball.

Instead of looking for McAlister and Riley, the home side had resorted to lumping high balls up towards Milne and Baird.

It was food and drink for Brian McLean and Gavin Gunning in the heart of the United defence.

United had a penalty claim turned down just five minutes before half time.

Rankin cut in from the left and there’s no doubt his cross was blocked by the arm of Barry Douglas.

But referee Willie Collum was right up with play and ruled it unintentional.

Russell’s pace was causing the Dundee defence all sorts of problems and there’s no doubt Smith and his players were relieved to hear the half-time whistle sound.

They trudged off with boos from the home fans ringing in their ears.

It almost went from bad to worse at the start of the second half.

But again Douglas got down superbly to deny United’s Stuart Armstrong.

Then more controversy as Dundee had a penalty appeal of their own turned down. Again, you can’t question Collum’s positioning, but the ball clearly struck McLean on the arm and this time the whistler SHOULD have pointed to the spot.

It was a real let-off for United who went thundering downfield and almost hit a second. Russell’s effort had the beating of Douglas, but not the keeper’s left-hand post.

Dundee were still shipping possession far too cheaply.

But Iain Davidson had Cierzniak scrambling across his goal on 64 minutes.

And just three minutes later Matt Lockwood went even closer with a great free-kick that the United keeper superbly tipped over. Then, with just over 20 minutes remaining the game exploded into controversy again.

Armstrong was clearly taken out by Gary Irvine, but the United winger had got his cross away and Douglas saved superbly from Daly.